School boundaries to be redrawn again

LoudounExtra.com
Copyright 2008 The Washington Post Company

Slowdown Means Redrawing School Boundaries, Says Hatrick

By Michael Birnbaum

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

The Loudoun County School Board heard a presentation last night from school superintendent Edgar B. Hatrick III in which he described the impact a school construction slowdown will have on attendance boundaries.

Citing the economic crisis, the Board of Supervisors has told the school system not to expect any approved building projects in fiscal year 2010. That means that current construction plans likely will be pushed back a year and up to 34 school boundaries may have to be redrawn to alleviate overcrowding, Hatrick said.

The plan "is in some ways the most difficult capitol improvement program I've had to present," Hatrick said, "because we're working on so many variable levels with so many sources of funding."

School officials project continued enrollment growth despite the economic downturn and the slowdown in home construction, in part because existing Loudoun families continue to grow, said Sam Adamo, director of planning and legislative services for the system. His office expects that Loudoun's schools -- still by far the region's fastest-growing -- will increase from 57,000 students this year to almost 72,000 in 2013.

That means shifts in attendance boundaries throughout the county to accommodate growth that will outpace new construction.

The school board also voted 6-3 last night to direct Hatrick to prepare budgets that anticipate local funding cuts of 15, 10 and 5 percent, as well as a no-growth budget and a budget that incorporates all of the programs Hatrick deemed necessary for students. Thomas E. Reed (At Large), Bob Ohneiser (Broad Run) and Tom Marshall (Leesburg) voted against the measure.

Board vice-chairman John Stevens (Potomac), who proposed the measure, said that it would provide "strategic guidance to the superintendent," and would help the Board of Supervisors understand the impact of funding the school system at various levels.

But Reed said that the Board of Supervisors had already directed the school system to prepare budgets at those levels, and he called the discussions on Stevens' proposal an opportunity for "grandstanding."

"Is there something in this motion that Dr. Hatrick has not agreed to previously?" Reed asked.

"Nothing," Hatrick replied.

Board members also referenced the continuing saga of Woodgrove High School, to be built near Purcellville. The county and the town have been engaged in a protracted battle over the site, but a compromise may be nearing, with the town agreeing to drop litigation if the county agrees to pay for infrastructure improvements and allows the school site to be annexed into the town's boundaries.

 

So the town of Purcellville continues to hold the county hostage unless the county coughs up millions of dollars more for the town..
I suggest scrapping the school and busing the kids from Purcellville to the Leesburg high schools that have the capacity. Sure beats spending $100,000,000 for a high school!!!!